July 2023

  In previous LightNOW reporting, I’ve written about EPA’s sunsetting of the ENERGY STAR Lamps and Luminaires specifications, along with the plan to launch a new recessed downlights specification. EPA has now released a second draft of the ENERGY STAR Recessed Downlights Version 1.0 specification (Version 1.0) intended to replace the Luminaires Version 2.2 specification (the existing [...]

    Women in Lighting + Design (WILD) is launching a formal membership program with multiple levels of membership to meet lighting professionals at all stages of their careers. WILD is an inclusive organization that welcomes all women in lighting, and as well as allies, to be part of the WILD community. All members play [...]

Here is a quick summary of four acquisitions, and two closures announced in the second quarter of 2023: Acuity Brands Acquires KE2 Therm Solutions. Details here. LMPG Acquires Majority Stake In Vode Lighting. Details here. Renova Lighting Systems Acquired. Details here. Inventronics Acquires ams Osram European and Asian Digital Systems business. Details here. Deco Lighting [...]

  BetterBricks is a program of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA). BetterBricks has posted seven Luminaire Level Lighting Controls Webinars on its website, to share lighting experts discussing the benefits of LLLC systems, from innovating the future of commercial lighting to the latest research on energy savings. Webinars cover the following seven topics: LLLC 1:1 [...]

  On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed Reese’s Law (P.L. 117-171), which aims to protect children 6 years and younger from accidentally swallowing button cell and coin batteries. Reese’s law requires the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) to promulgate a safety standard for these batteries and consumer products containing these batteries. This law raises [...]

  The lighting industry has become comfortable with the idea of internet connected (IoT) lighting that contains a computer chip in a luminaire for control, storing data, and communications. Buckle up, because “the edge” (computing within IoT devices) is about to get more complex with the addition of artificial intelligence (AI) computer chips at the [...]

For an upcoming article for tED Magazine, I recently had the opportunity to interview Erik Milz, VP Product Strategy, Cree Lighting, on the topic of continuing opportunity with commercial lighting upgrades as the LED installed base grows. Transcript follows.

Two architectural magazines are currently accepting applications for their Product Innovation Award programs. Both magazines are part of Endeavor Business Media: Architectural SSL magazine, and Architectural Products magazine. The award programs are separate, however. Here are details of each award program: 2023 Architectural SSL Product Innovation Award: Submission deadline has been extended until July 14th, [...]

  While circular economy principles are getting started in the North American lighting industry, they are far more advanced in the European lighting industry. In England, the LIA (Lighting Industry Association) and CIBSE (Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers) have joined forces to introduce a new product verification program aimed at promoting circular economy practices [...]